Bruins goalie Chad Johnson ready to take on bigger workload

Tuukka Rask added Olympics duty with Finland to his duties as the Bruins' No. 1 goalie and the NHL schedule down the stretch offers few breaks. The B's are counting on Chad Johnson to play more often, so Rask is fresh for the playoffs.

Chad Johnson can’t help rooting for Team Canada in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament. He’s a Canadian (Calgary), first of all, and his head coach (Claude Julien) and a teammate (Patrice Bergeron) are representing Canada.

But Johnson also backs up Tuukka Rask, the Bruins’ No. 1 goalie, and Rask plays for Finland. And as a New York Ranger in 2009-10, Johnson backed up Henrik Lundqvist, Sweden’s No. 1 goalie.

Johnson can safely devote his loyalty to Canada in Sunday’s gold-medal game against Lundqvist and Sweden because of his nationality, Julien and Bergeron, and another connection – he backed up Mike Smith, Canada’s No. 3 goalie, last season in Phoenix. He’ll have no problem throwing all his support behind Rask in Saturday’s bronze-medal game against Team USA, provided Rask is well enough to play. He was too sick to even dress for Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Swedes.

“I know players on other (Olympic) teams, too,” Johnson said, “but yeah, I’ve definitely been fortunate to be around some great goalies.”

Johnson will soon be called on more than ever to help Rask remain among the NHL’s elite and enter the playoffs relatively fresh. After resuming the NHL schedule next Wednesday at Buffalo – an assignment that will almost certainly be Johnson’s – the B’s play 17 games over 31 days in March. After starting 43 of the Bruins’ 57 games before the Olympic break and then competing for Finland in Sochi, Russia, Rask simply can’t keep up that pace down the stretch.

“Obviously, Tuukka will have played more games than usual because of the Olympics,” Johnson said, “so I think the (Bruins) will give him the time and the rest he needs, and I may play a little more.

“But I try not to think about it. Actually, the only time I think about it is when I’m asked about it. I just come here, practice, try to get better every day, and when I’m told I’m playing, I try to win the game.”

Johnson has done an outstanding job so far, with an 11-3-0 record over 17 appearances, and goals-against and saves percentage figures (2.13, .924) nearly identical to those of Rask (2.11, .928). He won his last five starts before the break, helping the B’s go 8-1-2 over their final 11.

“He came in and did a great job,” assistant coach Doug Houda said, “and allowed Tuukka to get a bit of a rest.”

Johnson, 27, made only 10 NHL appearances prior to this season, which required him to make interesting adjustments. Since he has never spent an entire season in the NHL since turning pro in 2009-10, he’s had to get used to facing the game’s best shooters every day. At the same time, he’s had to experience long gaps between games for the first time. Johnson was more of a workhorse in four AHL seasons, averaging 43 appearances in addition to occasional NHL stints.

Page 2 of 2 - “My first year (’09-10, when he made five NHL appearances), I was up with the Rangers for maybe three or four months,” he said. “It was tough. It was my first year pro, I was used to playing more – I was new to it.

“Now I’m more mature and I know my role better, so I know where my mindset needs to be to be able to play well. I feel like I’m in the right place mentally and my focus is where it needs to be.”

Johnson is ready to handle a higher percentage of the season’s final 25 games, but also prepared to deal with any lengthy gaps between appearances, however unlikely.

“I could be playing 60 games this year or I could be playing 20,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter or change how I prepare. My mindset is the same, regardless.”

Around the boards: Alexander Khokhlachev and Craig Cunningham, recalled from AHL Providence for Thursday’s practice, returned to the Baby B’s on Friday. In their places were Justin Florek and Matt Lindblad, who hustled back to Providence after Friday’s practice to catch the team bus for Saturday’s game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. … Winger Reilly Smith was sick on Friday and didn’t practice.

Mike Loftus may be reached at mloftus@ledger.com. On Twitter.com: @MLoftus_Ledger.